Leesville Road High School
2022-2023 Course Information
Table of Contents
English
English I
Intended Audience: 9th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Not Applicable
Description: English I is a required course for freshmen students, which covers multiple types of writing - novels, poetry and nonfiction. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Students are expected to function at grade level in communication and thinking skills.
Honors English I
Intended Audience: 9th grade students seeking a more rigorous study of literature, nonfiction, and writing
Prerequisite Courses: Not Applicable
Description: Honors English I is a required course for freshmen students, which covers multiple types of writing - novels, poetry and nonfiction. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Student in English I Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
Paideia English I
Intended Audience: Students with a natural curiosity and willingness to share opinions.
Prerequisite Courses: Not Applicable
Description: Students study the same curriculum as other English I students, but the focus is on creativity and analysis. Students have four seminars in class which require critical reading, clear speaking, active listening, and effective analysis. The work done in class focuses on transferable, real-world skills that prepare students for both future high school classes and life outside of school. The class is both engaging and challenging.
Honors Paideia English I
Intended Audience: 9th grade students seeking a more rigorous study of literature, nonfiction, and writing
Prerequisite Courses: not applicable
Description: Students study the same curriculum as other English I students, but the focus is on creativity and analysis. Students have four seminars in class which require critical reading, clear speaking, active listening, and effective analysis. The work done in class focuses on transferable, real-world skills that prepare students for both future high school classes and life outside of school. The class is both engaging and challenging. Student in English I Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
English II
Intended Audience: 10th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: English I or English I Honors
Description: English II is a required course for sophomores, which focuses on world literature. Students read stories from ancient Greece to Europe to Africa to the Middle East. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Students are expected to function at grade level in communication and thinking skills.
Honors English II
Intended Audience: 10th grade students seeking a more rigorous study of literature, nonfiction, and writing
Prerequisite Courses: English I or English I Honors
Description: Honors English II is a required course for sophomores, which focuses on world literature. Students read stories from ancient Greece to Europe to Africa to the Middle East. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Student in English II Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
Honors/Pre-AP English II
Intended Audience: 10th grade students planning to take AP English Language and Composition and/or AP English Literature and Composition
Prerequisite Courses: English I Honors
Description: Honors/Pre-AP English II is a required course for sophomores, which focuses on world literature. Students read stories from ancient Greece to Europe to Africa to the Middle East. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Student in English II Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments. Moreover, students will learn about rhetoric, timed literary analysis, and College Board testing in preparation for Advanced Placement English courses.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
English III
Intended Audience: 11th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: English II
Description: English III is a required course for juniors, which focuses on American literature. Students read American stories, fiction and nonfiction, from the 1600s to the twenty-first century. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Students are expected to function at grade level in communication and thinking skills.
Honors English III
Intended Audience: 11th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: English II or English II Honors
Description: Honors English III is a required course for juniors, which focuses on American literature. Students read American stories, fiction and nonfiction, from the 1600s to the twenty-first century. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Student in English III Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
AP Language & Comp III
Intended Audience: 11th grade honors students aspiring to earn college credit for an English course
Prerequisite Courses: English II Honors and English II Pre-AP
Description: This college-level course centers on an analytical study of American literature and language, focusing on rhetoric. Students read, discuss, analyze and write about challenging works of literary merit to develop a concise and effective use of language and the ability to write an coherent and persuasive essay. This course meets the needs of the academically gifted or highly motivated student who desires to participate in creative but practical activities and assignments which will prepare them to take the College Board Advanced Placement Test in May.
English IV
Intended Audience: 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: English I, II, and III
Description: English IV is a required course for seniors, which focuses on British literature. Students read British plays, stories, fiction and nonfiction, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the twenty-first century. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Students are expected to function at grade level in communication and thinking skills.
Honors English IV
Intended Audience: 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: English I, II, and III
Description: Honors English IV is a required course for seniors, which focuses on British literature. Students read British plays, stories, fiction and nonfiction, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the twenty-first century. Students will use their knowledge of literature and nonfiction to create various pieces of writing, including essays, digital publications, and creative writing. Students will also develop their communication skills through discussions, presentations, and seminars. Student in English IV Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
AP Literature & Comp IV
Intended Audience: 12th grade honors students aspiring to earn college credit for an English course
Prerequisite Courses: Honors English II or AP English Language and Composition
Description: This college-level course centers on an analytical study of British and world literature and language. Students read, discuss, analyze and write about challenging works of literary merit to develop a concise and effective use of language and the ability to write an coherent and persuasive essay. This course meets the needs of the academically gifted or highly motivated student who desires to participate in creative but practical activities and assignments which will prepare them to take the College Board Advanced Placement Test in May.
English Electives
African American Literature
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th & 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: English I
Description: This course explores African American writing and its relationship to American history and culture. Students study critical theories of African American literature and the contexts of cultural criticism through selected works by African American writers.
Honors African American Literature
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders
Prerequisite Courses: English I Honors
Description: This course explores African American writing and its relationship to American history and culture. Students study critical theories of African American literature and the contexts of cultural criticism through selected works by African American writers. Student in African American Literature Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
Creative Writing I
Intended Audience: Grades 10-12
Prerequisite Courses: English I
Description: Poetry! Short Fiction! Creative Nonfiction! Drama! In this writing-intensive course, students will explore creativity and techniques in creative writing through various genres. Students will deepen skills by opening their minds to all the possibilities imaginable. A local famous writer once told Ms. White that the best thing to do as a writer is read, so students will be reading as part of this course. Students will be strongly encouraged to submit their work for publication in the LRHS Literary Magazine. Curious? Check out the additional information!
Additional Resources: Course Video and Ms. White’s Website and LRHS Literary Magazine
Creative Writing II
Intended Audience: Grades 10-12
Prerequisite Courses: Creative Writing I
Description: Building from Creative Writing I, Creative Writing II will explore trends in writing throughout periods of literature. Students will set personal goals for growth in creative writing. As with Creative Writing I, there is a digital portfolio component. Students will be required to submit at least one piece for publication in the LRHS Literary Magazine. Curious? Check out the additional information!
Additional Resources: Course Video and LRHS Literary Magazine
Culture Media Literature
Intended Audience: 11th & 12 graders
Prerequisite Courses: English I & II
Description: This course is designed for the student to study forms of media that entertain, inform, and shape our society including television, movies, video games, music, advertisements, news media, the Internet, and literature. Students will study media from a historical perspective and analyze media so that they will be informed consumers and citizens able to make decisions in our democratic society. Through individual and group projects, students will examine the relationship between culture and media.
Honors Culture Media Literature
Intended Audience: 11th & 12 graders
Prerequisite Courses: English I & II Honors
Description: This course is designed for the student to study forms of media that entertain, inform, and shape our society including television, movies, video games, music, advertisements, news media, the Internet, and literature. Students will study media from a historical perspective and analyze media so that they will be informed consumers and citizens able to make decisions in our democratic society. Through individual and group projects, students will examine the relationship between culture and media. Student in Cultural Media Literacy Honors will experience a more demanding application of the curriculum with assignments and activities which require more complex thought processes, independence in learning, and frequent writing assignments.
Newspaper
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: N/A
Description: Students who enjoy writing and creating do well in newspaper. A truly student-lead class, staff writers produce a weekly article, video, infographic, or other product that delivers information to our audience. We strive to create content that engages the LRHS community. For those students looking for authentic leadership as an editor, there is growth opportunities to learn leadership skills. The focus is on both communicating and soft skills students can use outside the school environment. Since students are leaders in the class, they do all social media postings, all website designs, and content creation.
Newspaper Website: lrshnews.org
Speech I
Intended Audience: Grades 9-12
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Speech I focuses on Formal and Special Occasion Speeches, which includes preparation and process. Students build life skills such responsibility, confidence, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Students will learn and improve communication skills such as microexpressions, nonverbal, written, spoken, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Speech I includes such fun activities as “Trust Walk,” debates, television and radio shows, “Live Family Sculptures for understanding family from different perspectives,’ interviewing skills, and oral interpretation, which is using the voice to make words come alive. Be willing to actively participate without the phone.
Additional Resources: WCPSS Speech I Course
Trends in Young Adult Literature
Intended Audience: Freshmen or anyone who loves reading
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course examines themes and trends in Young Adult Literature. Students read young adult novels, drama, short stories, and poetry. They participate in literature circles, write analyses of work, do research, and develop projects. Students who love to read love Trends in Young Adult Literature.
Yearbook
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: N/A
Description: In yearbook, students spend the entire year creating a 365 page book that documents student life at Leesville. We cover sports, school events, classes, and more. In yearbook, students are designers, journalists, photographers, and salespeople. We are a student-led, team oriented staff. Students in yearbook learn life, business, and journalism skills. Additionally, students will gain skills in page design, publishing techniques, editing, and copywriting while covering memories that will last a lifetime.
Additional Resources: About Yearbook Yearbook Website
Integrated Reading
Intended Audience: 9th grade student seeking to strengthen their reading comprehension
Prerequisite Courses: not applicable
Description: This course is to be taught as an integrated year-long course with English I and is designed for students who benefit from instruction in phonics, decoding, fluency, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students receive targeted instruction in reading at the same time they are taking English I in order to support their literacy growth in the context of opportunities to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
Structured Writing
Intended Audience: Sophomores seeking to strengthen their writing skills
Prerequisite Courses: English I
Description: This course is designed for students who need additional instruction in the writing process. Students work with focusing on the main idea, organization, support and elaboration, style, and grammar/conventions. Students who need specific writing instruction and conferencing, as well as students who experience difficulty in writing during English I, should take this course.
ESL
Intended Audience: Student whose first language is not English
Prerequisite Courses: not applicable
Description: The goal of ESL is to support English Language Learners’ academic achievement by accelerating English language development and helping students acquire essential understanding of the English language, written and spoken.
Mathematics
Foundation of NC Math 1 (Math 1A) AND Math 1B
(year long option)
Intended Audience: 9th and 10th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: 8th grade Math or Introductory Math
Description: NC Math 1 is the basic foundation for all high school math courses, builds basic skills, and develops an understanding of essential math concepts. These two courses should be taken together to satisfy the first of 4 required math courses.
NC Math 1 (one semester option)
Intended Audience: 9th grade math students who did not have the opportunity to complete Math 1 in 8th grade, but have very strong math skills and are prepared to work at a faster pace.
Prerequisite Courses: 8th grade math
Description: NC Math 1 is the basic foundation for all high school math courses, builds basic skills, and develops an understanding of essential math concepts.
Foundation of NC Math 2
Intended Audience: Students who need additional support before moving on to NC Math 2
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 1B or NC Math 1
Description: This course is an elective course between Math 1 and 2 for students who need additional support to be prepared to be successful in Math 2. Students should also register for NC Math 2.
NC Math 2
Intended Audience: Students who have completed Math 1
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 1B or NC Math 1
Description: Math 2 builds on the foundation established in Math 1, explores additional function types, and develops mathematical reasoning and justifications, including proof.
Honors NC Math 2
Intended Audience: 9th grade students who have been highly successful in NC Math 1 and/or who are interested in STEM majors at a four year university after high school.
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 1
Description: Honors NC Math 2 builds on the foundation established in Math 1, explores additional function types, and develops mathematical reasoning and justifications, including proof.
NC Math 3
Intended Audience: Students who have completed Math 2
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 2
Description: Math 3 builds on the foundation established in Math 2, explores additional function types and geometric and trigonometric relationships, and develops mathematical reasoning and justifications.
Honors NC Math 3
Intended Audience: Students who have been successful in NC Math 2 Honors and intend to enroll in Honor Precalculus and/or students who are interested in STEM majors at a four year university after high school.
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 2, preferably Honors
Description: Math 3 builds on the foundation established in Math 2, explores additional function types and geometric and trigonometric relationships, and develops mathematical reasoning and justifications.
NC Math 4
Intended Audience: Students who have completed NC Math 3 and need additional support in NC Math 4
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 3
Description: This course completes the four year math sequence and prepares students for college level algebra.
Honors NC Math 4
Intended Audience: Students who have completed NC Math 3 and intend to enroll in a four year college/university
OR students who have completed Honors Math 3 but need additional preparation before taking Honors Precalculus.
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 3 or Honors NC Math 3
Description: This course is primarily focused on functions and statistical thinking. It integrates concepts from earlier math courses and applies them to more advanced functions.
Honors PreCalculus
Intended Audience: Students interested in STEM majors and/or attending a competitive four year university.
Prerequisite Courses: Honors Math 3
We recommend NC Math 3 students enroll in NC Math 4 Honors AND Honors PreCalculus to be fully prepared.
Description: Precalculus is a rigorous course that builds upon and deepens understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry introduced in previous courses.
AP Statistics
Intended Audience: Students interested in college level coursework in math, students who intend to major in fields that require an understanding of survey or research results.
Prerequisite Courses: Honors Math 4 or Honors Precalculus
Students who have completed Honors Math 3 can enroll in both Honors Precalculus and AP Statistics the same year and may take the courses in either order or in the same semester.
Description: Students will learn about the major concepts and tools used for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data.
Honors Discrete Math
Intended Audience: Students interested in careers in computer science who want to learn the mathematical structures that support computer programming.
Prerequisite Courses: Honors NC Math 4 or Honors Precalculus
Description: Discrete Math is the study of mathematical structures that are countable or otherwise distinct and separable.
AP Calculus AB (Spring Only)
Intended Audience: Students who intend to pursue STEM majors and college level course work in math, but do not want to take BC Calculus
Prerequisite Courses: Honors Precalculus
Description: Calculus AB develops students’ understanding of the concepts of calculus, including derivatives and integrals, and provides experience with its methods and applications.
AP Calculus AB/BC
Intended Audience: Students interested in STEM majors and college level coursework in math
Prerequisite Courses: Honors Precalculus
Description: Calculus AB/BC develops students’ understanding of the concepts of calculus, including derivatives and integrals, and provides experience with its methods and applications.
Honors Mathematical Analysis
Intended Audience: Students who have succesfully completed BC Calculus and wish to continue their study of calculus.
Prerequisite Courses: AP Calculus BC
Description: Math Analyis Honors extends the concepts of Calculus AB/BC from the 2 dimensional plane to multivariable calculus in 3 dimensional space.
Fundamental Math (by recommendation only)
Intended Audience: Students in need of significant remediation to be prepared for high school level mathematics.
Prerequisite Courses: Middle school recommendation
Description: Students will review and study foundational topic that are essential for success in high school mathematics courses.
Introductory Math (by recommendation only)
Intended Audience: Students in need of remediation to be prepared for high school level mathematics.
Prerequisite Courses: Middle school recommendation
Description: Students will review and study foundational topic that are essential for success in high school mathematics courses.
Math Plus Honors (by recommendation only)
Intended Audience: 9th grade students who need to deepen understanding of NC Math 1 mathematical concepts
Prerequisite Courses: Marginal proficiency in NC Math 1
Description: Students will be exposed to the content of NC Math 1 to reinforce crucial skills needed for high school math courses and will preview some topics from NC Math 2.
Science
Earth/Environmental Science
Intended Audience: 9th graders who are in Math I
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course will focus on inquiry into the functions of the earth's systems. Emphasis is placed on matter, energy, crustal dynamics, environmental awareness, materials availability, and the cycles that circulate energy and material through the earth system. The students will also study plate tectonics, rock and mineral formation, and landforms. Laboratory work is a major component of the course.
Additional Resources: What is Earth/Environmental Science?
9th Grade Honors Earth/Environmental Science
Intended Audience: 9th graders in Math I
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course will focus on inquiry into the functions of the Earth's primary systems. Emphasis is placed on crustal dynamics, environmental awareness and availability of resources, and the cycles that circulate Earth’s energy and materials through the systems. Laboratory work is a major component of the course.
This course is for strong science students who are not yet at the appropriate math level recommended for Biology
Additional Resources: What is Earth/Environmental Science?
Upperclassmen Honors Earth/Environmental Science
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Biology and Chemistry
Description: This course will focus on inquiry into the functions of the Earth's primary systems. Emphasis is placed on crustal dynamics, environmental awareness and availability of resources, and the cycles that circulate Earth’s energy and materials through the systems. Laboratory work is a major component of the course.
Additional Resources: What is Earth/Environmental Science?
AP Environmental Science
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Biology and Chemistry
Description: APES will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. The course focus is on the "real science" behind environmental problems and issues. Laboratory and field study are an important element of the course. This course does fill the Earth Science graduation requirement. Students can/may earn college credit.
Additional Resources: What is APES?
Biology
Intended Audience: 10th graders in Math II or higher
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: Biology is the study of life. This course is designed to develop student understanding of biological concepts and principles and promote an understanding of processes from the small scale (cell) to the larger scale (biosphere). Laboratory work is an important part of the course. Students are required to take the North Carolina End-Of-Course test in Biology
Additional Resources: What is Biology?
Honors Biology
Intended Audience: 9th graders in Math II or higher
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: Biology is the study of life. This course is designed to develop student understanding of biological concepts and principles and promote an understanding of processes from the small scale (cell) to the larger scale (biosphere). Laboratory work is an important part of the course. Students are required to take the North Carolina End-Of-Course test in Biology
Honors Biology covers basic concepts of Biology but in greater depth than Biology. Students utilize critical thinking skills in class work and lab activities. Students are held to very high standards in both written and verbal expression. In order to do well, students in Honors Biology should be able to follow precise directions, study every night, be self-motivated, and be willing to come for extra help when needed
Additional Resources: What is Biology?
Chemistry
Intended Audience: 10th or higher
Prerequisite Courses: Math II
Description: Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter. The course provides an introduction to the theories concerning the structure of matter and includes mathematical problems that illustrate the theories. Laboratory experiences and demonstrations are an integral part of the course.
Additional Resources: What is Chemistry?
Honors Chemistry
Intended Audience: 10th or higher
Prerequisite Courses: Math II (honors is recommended)
Description: Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter. The course provides an introduction to the theories concerning the structure of matter and includes mathematical problems that illustrate the theories. Laboratory experiences and demonstrations are an integral part of the course.
Honors Chemistry requires higher level math and problem solving skills than Chemistry. The units are much more detailed and math oriented.
Additional Resources: What is Chemistry?
Physical Science
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Math I. Also usually taken after Biology and Earth/environmental
Description: This course teaches concepts of physics and chemistry by using both laboratory approaches and inquiry teaching. One quarter focuses on intro to chemistry skills and the other focuses on Physics skills. Students use their mathematical skills in the applications of science. This course is structured for those students who struggle with certain math and/or science skills
Additional Resources: What is Physical Science?
Science Electives
Honors Anatomy & Physiology
Intended Audience: 11th and 12 grade (10th if meets Chemistry requirement)
Prerequisite Courses: Biology and Chemistry (you may take Chemistry in same year as Anatomy)
Description: Anatomy and Physiology is the study of the structure and function of the human body. We begin with a review of biochemistry and how cells work. This makes it easier to understand what makes the cells in our body work differently. We then discuss tissues, for you must understand the types of tissues in the body to understand how organs work. When then begin each body system in depth in order to learn what makes each part special. Dissections are completed in this course.
Additional Resources: What is Anatomy and Physiology?
Astronomy
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: none officially, but Earth and Environmental Science—and the ability to manipulate solve simple algebra equations—are strongly recommended.
Description: Astronomy is the study of everything out there! The course begins with an overview of what we see in and can learn from the night sky. We then discuss the history of Astronomy from ancient cultures through the Renaissance. Next, we pause for in-depth examinations of gravity and optics. We spend the second half of the semester going on a long tour of the universe--starting with Earth and moving outward to the Moon, the rest of the solar system, other galaxies, and eventually the entire universe itself. It’s quite a journey! Check out the video linked below for more information. Having a smart device--a laptop, tablet, or smartphone--is quite helpful, as we do use several online resources to help us see the night sky from the classroom.
Honors Astronomy
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: none officially, but Earth and Environmental Science—and the ability to manipulate solve simple algebra equations—are strongly recommended.
Description: (Note: see the description on the “Astronomy” slide first.) Compared to Academic Astronomy, Honors goes into greater detail on certain topics (particularly gravity and astrophysics), has a heavier emphasis on math, and incorporates a few extra projects. Honors is recommended for students with a fairly strong math background who are eager to learn about the universe and to challenge themselves!
Honors Forensic Science
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Biology and Chemistry
Description: In this course, the student will be examining the role of the forensic scientist. Students will experience the application of the pure sciences as they examine the evidence of various forensic situations. The activities will include traditional methods in addition to modern biotechnical techniques.
Additional Resources: Overview of Forensic Science with Ms. Collins
Honors Marine Ecology
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grades
Prerequisite Courses: Biology (Chemistry is helpful)
Description: MARINE ECOLOGY studies the interrelationships among marine organisms and the physical, chemical, geological, and biological factors in their environment are the focus of this course. The importance of the marine environment to life on earth is stressed. North Carolina's coastal processes are studied in detail. Laboratory and field experiences are major components of the course.
Additional Resources: email Ms. Lawless at klawless@wcpss.net
AP Biology & Honors Research Methods
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Biology and Chemistry
You must enroll in both AP Biology and Honors Research Methods for this is a year long course.
Description: Students study the basic principles and concepts covered in an introductory "General Biology" college-level course. The course content is divided into 4 Big Ideas: evolution, energetics, information storage and transmission and systems interactions. In addition, students complete inquiry-based laboratory experiences to address 7 Science Practices. Please use the additional resources below for a more detailed description of the Big Ideas and Science Practices. At the end of the course, students may choose to take the AP Biology Exam and depending on their score, receive college credit for the course.
Due to the depth of the subject matter (including use of inquiry-based labs), AP Biology is paired up with Honors Research Methods and Techniques.
Additional Resources: AP Biology Concepts At a Glance & Video on "What is AP Biology?"
AP Chemistry
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Chemistry, Math II
Description: This is a college level course in which students study the basic principles and concepts of chemistry. This course is designed like a "General Chemistry" course that would be taught at a college or university. Topics include chemical composition, stoichiometry, atomic structures, bonding, molecular structure, chemical reactions, states of matter, and solutions.
The students may choose to take the AP Chemistry Exam at the end of the year; depending on the student's grade on this exam, the student may receive credit at a university or college for the course.
Additional Resources: AP Chemistry course at a glance
Physics
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Math III
Description: In this class, students will explore physics, the study of matter and energy. The first portion of the course will include an introduction to kinematics, the study of motion, and dynamics, the study of forces. Other topics to be covered are as follows: energy, electricity, magnetism, waves, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, and nuclear physics.
Physics is a math based subject and students must be in/have taken a math higher than Math III.
Additional Resources: What is Physics?
AP Physics I
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Math level higher than Math III
Description: This class will follow the Physics Standard Course of Study as outlined by the state. AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based is the equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits. The students may chose to take the AP Physics Exam at the end of the year; depending on the student's grade on this exam, the student may receive credit at a university or college for the course.
Additional Resources: What is Physics?
AP Physics II
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: AP Physics I
Description: AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based is the equivalent to a second-semester college course in algebra-based physics. The course covers fluid mechanics; thermodynamics; electricity and magnetism; optics; and atomic and nuclear physics. The students may choose to take the AP Physics Exam at the end of the year; depending on the student's grade on this exam, the student may receive credit at a university or college for the course.
This class consists of students who after completing the first part of physics wish to study the topics more in-depth. Students must be able to work independently on challenging problems. Also students will be expected to explain with equations and words how the concepts work.
Additional Resources: What is Physics?
Social Studies
Want a quick guide to understanding Social Studies required courses and electives? Click here.
World History
Intended Audience: 9th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The desired outcome of this course is that students develop relevant enduring understandings of current world issues and relate them to their historical, political, economic, geographical and cultural contexts. As students examine the historical roots of significant events, ideas, movements, and phenomena, they encounter the contributions and patterns of civilizations of the past and societies around the world. Students taking this course will broaden their historical perspectives as they explore ways societies have dealt with continuity and change, exemplified by concepts such as civilization, revolution, government, economics, war, stability, movement, technology, etc.
Additional Resources: video about World History courses
(This course fulfills the World History graduation requirement).
Honors World History
Intended Audience: 9th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The desired outcome of this course is that students develop relevant enduring understandings of current world issues and relate them to their historical, political, economic, geographical and cultural contexts. As students examine the historical roots of significant events, ideas, movements, and phenomena, they encounter the contributions and patterns of civilizations of the past and societies around the world. Students taking this course will broaden their historical perspectives as they explore ways societies have dealt with continuity and change, exemplified by concepts such as civilization, revolution, government, economics, war, stability, movement, technology, etc.
Additional Resources: video about World History courses
(This course fulfills the World History graduation requirement).
Paideia World History
Intended Audience: 9th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, and processes from the paleolithic age to the present. Students participate in academic socratic seminars twice per semester and discuss a text and historical developments.
Additional Resources: video about World History courses
(This course fulfills the World History graduation requirement).
Honors Paideia World History
Intended Audience: 9th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, and processes from the paleolithic age to the present. Students participate in academic socratic seminars twice per semester and discuss a text and historical developments.
Additional Resources: video about World History courses
(This course fulfills the World History graduation requirement).
AP World History
Intended Audience: 9th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from 1200 to the present.
Additional Resources: video about World History courses
(This course fulfills the World History graduation requirement).
Civic Literacy
Intended Audience: 10th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course will allow students to examine the ways in which power and responsibility are both shared and limited by the U.S. Constitution and how the judicial, legal, and political systems of North Carolina and the United States embody the founding principles of government. Students in this course will analyze and evaluate the extent to which the American system of government guarantees, protects, and upholds the rights of citizens. Students will also investigate how the American system of government has evolved over time.
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
Honors Civic Literacy
Intended Audience: 10th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course will allow students to examine the ways in which power and responsibility are both shared and limited by the U.S. Constitution and how the judicial, legal, and political systems of North Carolina and the United States embody the founding principles of government. Students in this course will analyze and evaluate the extent to which the American system of government guarantees, protects, and upholds the rights of citizens. Students will also investigate how the American system of government has evolved over time.
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
AP U.S. Government & Politics
Intended Audience: 10th (11th and 12th graders as an elective, see note at bottom)
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The course provides a nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States.
Additional Resources: This course can be taken to fulfill the Civic Literacy graduation requirement (or as an elective course in 11th/12th grade).
American History
Intended Audience: 11th grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in American history that cover the end of the French and Indian War (1763) and end through the latest Presidential Election (i.e. 2020, 2024, etc.).
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
Honors American History
Intended Audience: 11th grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in American history that cover the end of the French and Indian War (1763) and end through the latest Presidential Election (i.e. 2020, 2024, etc.).
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
AP U.S. History
Intended Audience: 11th (12th graders as an elective, see note at bottom)�
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Reading and writing intensive investigation of significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present.
Additional Resources: This course can be taken to fulfill the American History graduation requirement (or as an elective course in 12th grade).
Economics and Personal Finance
Intended Audience: 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course is intended to be a study of economics, personal finance, income and education, money management, critical consumerism, and financial planning.
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
Honors Economics and Personal Finance
Intended Audience: 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course is intended to be a study of economics, personal finance, income and education, money management, critical consumerism, and financial planning.
Additional Resources: This course is required for graduation.
Social Studies Electives
African American Studies
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: none (but American History suggested)
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in American history from the specific perspective of African Americans.
Additional Resources: Video about Course
Honors African American Studies
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: none (but American History suggested)
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in American history from the specific perspective of African Americans.
Additional Resources: Video about Course
AP European History
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None (best suited for upperclassmen)
Description: Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes on the European continent from approximately 1450 to the present.
Additional Resources: video about the course
AP Human Geography
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface.
Additional Resources: video about the Course
AP Macroeconomics
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The course introduces students to principles and models that apply to an economic system as a whole (global economy).
Additional Resources: video about the course
AP Psychology
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
Additional Resources: video about the course
AP U.S. Government & Politics
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: The course provides a nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States.
Additional Resources: video about the course
AP U.S. History
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th and 12th graders �(typically taken by 11th graders because it can fulfill other requirements; watch video for more information)
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Reading and writing intensive investigation of significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Contemporary Law & Justice
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students get an entry level course on the different types of law, including criminal and civil. Students investigate the law-making process, court procedures, family law, and many constitutional principles.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Geography
Intended Audience: 9th and 10th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: It’s about more than maps (but yes, there are maps.) Students will get a general overview of basic geographic concepts. We will then investigate Physical and Human Geography on each of the seven continents using a variety of learning strategies including inquiry and investigation. The course provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning through traditional assessments, but also hands on assessments such as posters and folders, as well as digital presentations/creations.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Holocaust & Genocide in World Studies
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: World History
Description: History of various genocides is explored in this course reviewing attempts at wiping out groups based upon religious, racial and national origins. Participants will learn the impact of severe prejudice and persecution to understand the nature of civilization itself and focus on prevention strategies for future genocide and dehumanization. The World War II Holocaust as well as recent 20th century genocides such as Armenia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Sudan, and Darfur will be explored. Students will complete substantial reading, writing and research.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Lessons of Vietnam War/Recent International Relations
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: World History
Description: Lessons of the Vietnam War focuses on ethical questions that arose during the Vietnam conflict, events of the social protest movement, world-wide response and involvement in Vietnam, problems following Reunification, lasting effects on Veterans, and Vietnam today.
Recent International Relations emphasizes world events since the end of the Cold War (1989 to present) and American involvement in those events. Students will evaluate the decision making process of the United States in foreign affairs.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Psychology
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Psychology engages students in the understanding, articulation, and dissemination of psychology as a science. Students are introduced to psychology, with a focus on the scientific study of human development, learning, motivation, and personality. It emphasizes the empirical examination of behavior and mental processes and it infuses perspectives fostering students' growth, development, and understanding of cultural diversity.
Religion in World Cultures
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: In this course, we will study all religions within an academic and scholarly context. We will examine the mystery and beauty of the world’s best selling book-the Bible.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Religion in World Cultures
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: In this course, we will study all religions within an academic and scholarly context. We will examine the mystery and beauty of the world’s best selling book-the Bible.
Additional Resources: video about the course
Honors Sociology
Intended Audience: 10th, 11th and 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course provides a framework for understanding the basic history of Sociology. The course also focuses on the role that Culture plays in Sociology.
Additional Resources: video about the course
HEALTH & PHYSICAL FITNESS
Health & Physical Education
Intended Audience: 9th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: PE components include motor skills and movement concepts. Health components include nutrition and physical activity, consumer health, decision-making, substance abuse, conflict resolution strategies, and mental and emotional health.
Additional Resources: None
Honors Health & Physical Education
Intended Audience: 9th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: PE components go beyond the standard Healthful Living offering using student-led project coursework which demands higher-level knowledge of Physical Education principles. Health components go beyond the standard Health Education offering by blending neuroscientific principles with behavioral health concepts.
Additional Resources: None
Physical Education Electives
Lifetime Sports I
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Healthful Living
Description: This course includes personal fitness and lifetime sports such as golf, tennis, badminton, table tennis, bowling, and pickleball. This course includes the history, rules, and terminology with an emphasis on skill development, and game strategies.
Additional Resources: None
Lifetime Sports II
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Lifetime Sports I
Description: This course includes personal fitness development, demonstration of more advanced skills in lifetime sports.
Additional Resources: None
PEPI I / PEPI II
Intended Audience: 11th & 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Healthful Living & Application
Description: Physical Education Pupil Instructor (P.E.P.I.) is a YEAR round class. First semester you will teach our high school special needs students and 2nd semester you will teach elementary schools students K-5 PE Games and activities. You will need to fill out an application packet for this class.
Additional Resources: PEPI Video and Application Packet
Physical Fitness I
Intended Audience: Typically 9th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course emphasizes regular participation in a variety of fitness activities that promote a healthy and wellness-oriented lifestyle. Students will develop knowledge and skills in the areas of cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and muscular strength/endurance.
Additional Resources: None
Physical Fitness II
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Physical Fitness I
Description: This course emphasizes regular participation in a variety of fitness activities that promote a healthy and wellness-oriented lifestyle. Students will develop knowledge and skills in the areas of cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and muscular strength/endurance.
Additional Resources: None
Sports Medicine I
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Healthful Living
Description: The primary focus includes: The Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Team, injury prevention, physical training and conditioning techniques, nutritional considerations, protective sports equipment, psychology of sport injury/illness, mechanisms and characteristics of sports trauma, tissue response to injury, human anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, CPR/bloodborne pathogens, injury assessment and evaluation, environmental concerns, basic taping and bandaging, explanations of therapeutic modalities, and basic exercise rehabilitation.
Additional Resources: None
Sports Medicine II
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Sports Medicine I
Description: The primary focus includes the following topics: human anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, specific sports injuries or conditions related to the foot/ankle/lower leg, knee, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist/hand, hip, thigh, groin, pelvis, abdomen, thorax, lumbar/thoracic/cervical spine, head, face, in addition to other health considerations and advanced taping techniques.
Additional Resources: None
Honors Sports Medicine III
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Sports Medicine I & II
Description: The course explores injury rehabilitation process including full understanding of tissue healing and modalities. Student’s will demonstrate how both these and the required components of a complete rehabilitation plan are taken into account while addressing specific injuries and conditions. Another mandate of the course requires the American Red Cross (ARC) certified instructor to maintain the student’s certification in Adult CPR and AED.
Additional Resources: None
Team Sports I
Intended Audience: Typically 9th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course includes personal fitness and team sports such as basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, and softball. This course includes the history, rules, and terminology with an emphasis on skill development, officiating, and game strategies.
Additional Resources: None
Team Sports II
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Team Sports I
Description: This course includes the development of a greater in depth knowledge, the application of personal fitness skills, and the demonstration of more advanced team sport skills. Please see Team Sports I for a general listing of activities for this elective.
Additional Resources: None
Weight Training & Conditioning I
Intended Audience: Typically 9th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course involves introductory techniques of weight training and cardiovascular conditioning, safety precautions, and injury prevention, and methods of weight management. Major focuses are general muscle toning and achieving total fitness.
Additional Resources: None
Weight Training & Conditioning II
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Weight Training & Conditioning I
Description: This course improves muscular strength and power through progressive weight training techniques. The course includes techniques and skills as well as alternative strategies for developing overall strength and conditioning.
Additional Resources: None
Weight Training & Conditioning III
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Weight Training & Conditioning I/II
Description: This course is for advanced lifting and exercise techniques which may include: Olympic lifts, plyometric training, and agility and speed workouts. The course includes techniques and skills as well as alternative strategies for developing overall strength and conditioning.
Additional Resources: None
World Language
French I
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: �Rising 9th graders should have EOG scores of 4 �Grades 10-12 should have a GPA of 2.0 or higher
Description: Students perform the most basic functions of the language and become familiar with some elements of its culture. The emphasis is placed on the development of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a given context extending outside of the classroom setting when possible. The content focuses on the students’ lives and experiences, and includes an exposure to everyday customs and lifestyles. Grammar is integrated throughout the course.
Additional Resources: World Languages PDF
French II
Intended Audience: Students who have:�- completed French I with an average of 75% or higher�- completed two years of study in middle school & scored appropriately on the exit exam.
Prerequisite Courses: French I
Description: This course provides students with opportunities to continue the development of their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students participate in short conversational situations by combining and recombining learned elements of the language orally and in writing. They are able to satisfy basic survival needs and interact concerning issues of everyday life in present time and past time, inside and outside of the classroom setting.
Additional Resources: World Languages PDF
French III (Honors)
Intended Audience: Students who have successfully completed French II with a B or higher.
Prerequisite Courses: French II
Description: This course provides students with additional opportunities to expand their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as they create in the language and access various materials (short texts, authentic materials, and other media) in generally familiar topics. Students satisfy limited communication and social interaction demands as well as initiate and maintain face-to-face communication. They identify and describe in a series of sentences, groups of related sentences, and short cohesive passages in present, past, and future time.
Additional Resources: World Languages PDF
French IV (Honors)
Intended Audience: Students who have successfully completed French III (Honors) with a B or higher.
Prerequisite Courses: French III (Honors)
Description: A major focus of this course is to enable students to communicate in writing and in extended conversations on a variety of familiar and some unfamiliar topics. Students begin to narrate, discuss, and support fairly complex ideas and concepts using concrete facts and topics with details in a variety of tenses.
Additional Resources: World Languages PDF
Spanish I
Intended Audience: any student interested in learning Spanish
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course is an introduction to the study of the target language and its culture and may be taken in middle or high school. Students perform the most basic functions of the language and become familiar with some elements of its culture. The emphasis is placed on the development of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a given context extending outside of the classroom setting when possible. The content focuses on the students’ lives and experiences, and includes an exposure to everyday customs and lifestyles. Grammar is integrated throughout the course and is selected according to the language requirements.
Additional Resources: informational video
Heritage Spanish I
Intended Audience: Students who speak Spanish fluently at home
Prerequisite Courses: none, but Spanish fluency is required
Description: This course is designed specifically for native or heritage speakers of Spanish who already have some oral language proficiency. The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop, maintain, and enhance their proficiency in the heritage language by providing them the opportunity to listen, speak, and write in a variety of contexts and for a variety of audiences, including the family, school, and the immediate community. The course will allow students to explore the cultures that use the heritage language, including their own, and it will enable students to gain a better understanding of the nature of their own language as well as other languages to be acquired.
Spanish II
Intended Audience: This course is recommended for the student who has successfully completedSpanish I with an average of 75% or higher, or who has completed two years of study in middle school and scored appropriately on the exit exam.
Prerequisite Courses: Spanish I
Description: This course provides students with opportunities to continue the development of their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. They are able to satisfy basic survival needs and interact concerning issues of everyday life in present and past time, inside and outside of the classroom setting. They compose related sentences which narrate, describe, compare, and summarize familiar topics from the target culture. Focus is places on understanding the main ideas in simple text. Students develop a better understanding of the similarities and differences between cultures and languages and they examine the influence of the beliefs and values on the target cultures.
Honors Spanish III
Intended Audience: This course is recommended for the student who has successfully completed Spanish II with a B or higher.
Prerequisite Courses: Spanish II
Description: This course provides students with additional opportunities to expand their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills as they create in the language and access various materials (short literacy texts, authentic materials, technical manuals, and other media) in generally familiar topics. Students satisfy limited communication and social interaction demands as well as initiate and maintain face-to-face communication. They identify main ideas and some details in discussions, presentations, and written texts within a cultural context; read and interpret authentic materials; narrate and describe in a series of sentences, groups of related sentences, and short cohesive passages in present, past,and future time; and compose messages, announcements, personal notes, and advertisements.
Honors Spanish IV
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Honors Spanish III
Description: A major focus of this course is to enable students to communicate in writing and in extended conversations on a variety of familiar and unfamiliar topics in Spanish. Students begin to narrate, discuss, and support more complex ideas and concepts in a variety of tenses. Many different texts in the target language are also included, including articles, short stories, poems, etc. Finer points of grammar are studied to aid oral and written communication. There is more in-depth study of the target cultures and their influence throughout the world. Students are able to connect the target language to other disciplines and can compare it to their own. Finally, they are able to use the language inside and outside of the classroom setting. This course is recommended for the student who has successfully completed Spanish III with a B or higher.
Honors Spanish V/AP Spanish Language & Culture
Intended Audience: Typically grades 11-12
Prerequisite Courses: Spanish IV Honors or departmental permission
Description: Honors Spanish V is the prerequisite for AP Spanish Language and Culture. These courses emphasizes communication by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught almost exclusively in Spanish.
Additional Resources: APSLC College Board course description
Latin I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: For rising 10th-12th graders, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is recommended. For rising 9th grade students, a history of academic success (A’s and B’s in middle school) is typically a reliable indicator of a student’s preparation for Latin I.
Description: Latin I students learn the basics of Latin grammar, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and sentence structure. Vocabulary study in Latin I includes study of English derivatives. Students learn about Roman history and culture through interactive lessons and projects. Daily study of Latin quotations introduces students to well-known Latin sayings applicable to the fields of law, literature, philosophy, and medicine. Latin I prepares students for Latin II. Latin I also serves as an excellent stand-alone course to help students build their vocabulary, literacy, and analytical skills.
Latin II
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Latin I with a grade of C or above
Description: Latin II students continue their study of Latin vocabulary and grammar. Students learn all noun cases of the first three declensions and the conjugations for active verbs in all six tenses. Students continue to expand their vocabulary with an emphasis on Latin derivatives in English. Students survey Latin literature through a series of short adapted texts in Wheelock’s Latin. Daily study of Latin quotations continues to expose students to well-known Latin sayings applicable to the fields of law, literature, philosophy, and medicine. Latin II prepares students for Latin III Honors. Latin I and II meet the minimum language requirement for UNC system schools.
Honors Latin III
Intended Audience: 10th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Latin II with a grade of B or above
Description: Latin III Honors students build upon knowledge and skills developed in Latin I and II. Students learn intermediate and advanced grammatical concepts including infinitives, participles, and subjunctive verbs. Vocabulary study continues throughout Latin III Honors as students build upon prior knowledge of Latin vocabulary and English derivatives from Latin. Students continue their survey of Latin literature through a series of increasingly challenging texts in Wheelock’s Latin. Latin III Honors students also engage in study and analysis of adapted texts from Latin genres such as comedy, poetry, oratory, and historical writing. Students applying to four year colleges are advised to complete a Level III language course such as Latin III Honors.
Honors Latin IV
Intended Audience: 10th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Latin III Honors with B or above
Description: Latin IV Honors students build upon knowledge and skills developed in Latin I, II, and III Honors. Students learn advanced grammatical concepts including jussive subjunctives, purpose clauses, result clauses, indirect statement, conditions, indirect questions, indirect commands, fear clauses, and active and passive periphrastics. Vocabulary study is integrated throughout Latin IV Honors as students read a variety of adapted and unadapted texts. Students continue their survey of Latin literature through a series of increasingly challenging texts in Wheelock’s Latin, as well as from a variety of unadapted texts of Latin prose and poetry, including the writings of Caesar, Cicero, Pliny the Younger, Catullus, Martial, Horace, and Vergil. Students qualify for induction into the National Latin Honor Society upon enrollment in Latin IV Honors and with at least two A’s and a B in Latin I, II, and III Honors. Latin IV Honors is only taught in the spring semester, so any student who wants to take AP Latin should complete Latin IV Honors by the spring of their junior year.
AP Latin
Intended Audience: 11th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Latin IV Honors with grade of B or above
Description: AP Latin is a rich and rigorous upper-intermediate level college course taught as the fifth semester course in the Latin series at LRHS (I, II, III Honors, IV Honors, then AP). The AP Latin course is equivalent to a fourth or fifth semester college-level Latin course and follows the College Board syllabus that includes in-depth study of selections from Caesar’s De bello Gallico and Vergil’s Aeneid. Themes such as literary style and genre, leadership, history and memory, views of non-Romans, human beings and the gods, Roman values, and war and empire provide frameworks to understand the ways the language, course content, and culture are integrated. Students who want to take AP Latin in high school should start Latin no later than the fall of their sophomore year, as both Latin IV Honors and AP Latin are only taught in the spring semester.
Additional Resources: College Board AP Latin Course Description and Detailed Information
Career & Technical Education
Business Finance & Marketing
Computer Science & Information Tech
Health Science
Trade, Technology Engineering & Industrial
Family and Consumer Science
CTE Internship
CTE Advanced Study
Business Finance & Marketing Education
Accounting I
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Recommended: BF10 Principles of Business and Finance
Description: This course is designed to help students understand the basic principles of the accounting cycle. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and recording of business transactions, preparation, and interpretation of financial statements, accounting systems, banking and payroll activities, basic types of business ownership, and an accounting career orientation. Mathematics is reinforced and entrepreneurial experiences are encouraged.
Honors Accounting II
Intended Audience: 11th - 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Accounting I and teacher recommendation
Description: This honors-level course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of accounting procedures and techniques utilized in solving business problems and making financial decisions. Emphasis includes departmental accounting, corporate accounting, cost accounting, and inventory control systems, managerial accounting and budgeting, and further enhancement of accounting skills. Mathematics is reinforced and entrepreneurial experiences are encouraged.
Honors Business Law
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Principles of Business and Finance
Description: Students enrolled in the Business Law Honors course will extend their knowledge of basic legal principles common to all aspects of business and personal law through case study analyses, a business entities and structures presentation, and a landlord versus tenant project. These activities increase student exposure to real-world scenarios that are aligned to the Common Career Technical Common Core and Career Ready Practices. Emphasis is placed on the 21st Century skills of problem solving and critical analysis.
Business Management I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Principles of Business and Finance
Description: This course is designed to introduce students to core management concepts. The experience includes how managers plan, organize, staff, and direct the business’s resources that enhance the effectiveness of the decision-making process. Also, the experience includes students working through ethical dilemmas and problem-solving situations with customer service while academic and critical-thinking skills.
Business Management II
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Business Management I
Description: This course is designed to enable students to acquire, understand, and appreciate the significance of management to business organizations. Understanding how managers control financial resources, inventory, ensure employee safety, and protect customer data enhances the effectiveness of their decision making. Students will work through ethical dilemmas, practice problem solving, and enhance their teamwork skills. English language arts and mathematics are reinforced.
Honors Entrepreneurship I (H)
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: MM51 Marketing or BF05 Personal Finance OR BF10 Principles of Business and Finance
Description: In this course, students evaluate the concepts of going into business for themselves and working for or operating a small business. Emphasis is on the exploration of feasible ideas of products/services, research procedures, business financing, marketing strategies, and access to resources for starting a small business. Students develop components of a business plan and evaluate startup requirements. English language arts and social studies are reinforced.
Additional Resources: Please view the table of contents in the link below for a preview of what students will learn this semester. https://slideplayer.com/slide/9305717/
Honors Entrepreneurship II (H)
Intended Audience: 10th-12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Entrepreneurship I (H)
Description: In this course, students develop an understanding of pertinent decisions to be made after obtaining financing to open a small business. Students acquire in-depth understanding of business regulations, risks, management, and marketing. Students develop a small-business management handbook. English language arts and social studies are reinforced.
Additional Resources: Please review the following link on how to Write a Business Plan by the (SBA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMr_uLZV-eM
Marketing
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: In this course, students develop an understanding of the processes involved from the creation to the consumption of products/services. Students develop skills in the areas of distribution, marketing-information management, market planning, pricing, product/service management, promotion, and selling. Students develop an understanding of marketing function applications and impact on business operations. Mathematics and social studies are reinforced.
Honors Marketing Applications
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Marketing and teacher recommendation
Description: In this honors-level course, students will apply an understanding of marketing functions and impact of the functions on business decisions. Through problem solving and critical thinking, students will apply knowledge and skills in the areas of customer relations, economics, financial analysis, channel management, marketing- information management, marketing planning, products and services management, and selling. Relative opportunities are available for students to use technology to acquire and use marketing information. English, language arts, and social studies are reinforced.
Microsoft Word/Powerpoint
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students in the Microsoft Imagine Academy benefit from world-class Microsoft curriculum and software tools to tackle real-world challenges in the classroom environment. In the first part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft Word interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, share and create complex documents, and publish them. In the second part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft PowerPoint interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, and deliver presentations. Art and English language arts are reinforced
Additional Resources:
Honors Microsoft Word/Powerpoint
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students in the Microsoft Imagine Academy benefit from world-class Microsoft curriculum and software tools to tackle real-world challenges in the classroom environment. In the first part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft Word interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, share and create complex documents, and publish them. In the second part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft PowerPoint interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, and deliver presentations. Art and English language arts are reinforced
Additional Resources:
Honors Microsoft Excel
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: : Students in Microsoft Imagine Academies benefit from world-class Microsoft curriculum and cutting edge software tools to tackle real-world challenges in the classroom environment. The first part of the class is designed to help you use the newest version of Microsoft Excel interface,commands, and features to present, analyze, and manipulate various types of data, Students will learn to manage workbooks as well as how to manage,manipulate, and format data,In the second part of the class ,students will learn how to create and work with a database and its objects by using the new and improved features in newest version of Microsoft Access.Students will learn how to create,modify, and locate information as well as how to create programmable elements and share and distribute data base information,Mathematics is reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, internship, service learning, and job shadowing. Apprenticeship is not available for this course . Future Business leaders of America(FBLA) competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences. Content in this course aligns with the following industry credential: the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)in Excel and/or Access.
Principles of Business & Finance
Intended Audience: 9th -12 grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Description: This course introduces students to topics related to business, finance, management, and marketing to cover business in the global economy, functions of business organization and management, marketing basics, and significance of business financial and risk management. English language arts, social studies, and mathematics are reinforced.
Additional Resources: https://www.g-wonlinetextbooks.com/principles-business-marketing-finance-2017/
Project Management I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course will introduce students to the principles,concepts and software applications used in the management of projects.Through project-based learning ,students will understand how to use the framework of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling and closing a project in authentic situations. The core concepts of scope, time, cost, and integration will be examined during this course.
Project Management II
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: Project Management I
Description: This course will continue to discover the phases of project management through understanding of the nature of project management,Ethical Considerations, and Communications Management. Students will learn more about risk, Communication, Procurement, Stakeholders, and Project Execution. Through the course, students will create and execute a school or community based class project.
Sports & Entertainment Marketing I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students are introduced to the industry of sports, entertainment, and event marketing. Students acquire transferable knowledge and skills among related industries for planning sports, entertainment, and event marketing.
Honors Sports & Entertainment Marketing II
Intended Audience: 9th-12th
Prerequisite Courses: Sports & Entertainment Marketing I and Teacher recommendation
Description: This course is designed for students interested in an advanced study of sports, entertainment, and event marketing. Emphasis is placed on the following principles as they apply to the industry: Business Management, career development options, client relations, ethics, events management,legal issues and contracts, promotion and sponsorships.
Computer Science & Information Tech Education
Adobe Visual Design
Intended Audience: 9th-12th
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course is a project-based course that develops career, and communication skills in print and graphic design using Adobe Programs. This class will be using the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, with a focus on Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. The goal of this class is to achieve certification in all of these software. We will work through various tutorial guides and lessons to learn all the aspects of the software.The students will create large projects both individually and as a group to apply the skills we will learn throughout the semester.
Adobe Video Design
Intended Audience: 10th-12th
Prerequisite Courses: Adobe Visual Design
Description: This course is a project-based video course that develops career and communication skills in video production using Adobe Premiere Pro. This course offersAdobePremiere certification.We will work throughvarious tutorial guides and lessons to learn all the aspects of the software. The students will create large projectsboth individually and as a groupto apply the skills we will learn throughout the semester.
AP Computer Science Principles
Intended Audience: Typically 10th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: NC Math 2
Description: College Board’s Advanced Placement Program
(AP®) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school.
Code.org, Computer Science Principles (CSP) curriculum is a, rigorous, entry-level course that introduces high school students to the foundations of modern computing. The course covers a broad range of foundational topics such as programming, algorithms, the internet, big data, digital privacy and security, and the societal impacts of computing.
Additional Resources: What is Computer Science Principles?
Digital Design & Animation I
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Digital Design and Animation I is an introductory level course focusing on the concepts and tools used by digital artists in a wide variety of creative careers including graphic design, film, and game design. Students work with professional-grade creative software packages to develop 2D and 3D digital graphics and audio/video media. Students use Adobe CC Suite, and digital 3D Modeling with 3DS Max to build needed skills for subsequent courses.
Digital Design & Animation II
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Digital Design & Animation I
Description: Digital Design and Animation II emphasizes the use of industry-standard 3D modeling software. Students will get experience with advanced modeling techniques, lighting, camera work, texturing, simulation, and animation within Autodesk 3DS Max.
Game Art Design
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Digital Design & Animation I
Description: Game Art Design focuses on the use of game theory and design methods to create fun and engaging games. Students learn the basics of game design theory and use that to create their own games throughout the semester. Students will work with both board games and computer games over the course of the semester. Students use Adobe CC Suite for graphics and Unity to develop computer games
Advanced Game Art
Intended Audience: Insert Text
Prerequisite Courses: Insert Text
Description: Advanced Game Art Design focuses on expanding the students knowledge of game design theory and techniques. Students will us Unity and Autodesk 3DS Max in order to explore and creating 3D video games throughout the semester.
Health Sciences Education
Foundation of Health Science
Intended Audience: 9th-12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: N/A
Description: This course is designed to assist potential health care workers in their role and function as health team members. Topics include medical terminology, the history of health care, healthcare agencies, ethics, legal responsibilities, health careers, holistic health, health care trends, cultural awareness, communication, medical math, leadership, and career decision making.Students also have an opportunity to join HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals.
Additional Information: Health Science Career Pathway
Health Sciences I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Biology (is recommended)
Description: This course focuses on human anatomy, physiology and human body diseases and disorders, and biomedical therapies. Students will learn about health care careers within the context of human body systems. Projects, teamwork, and demonstrations serve as instructional strategies that reinforce the curriculum content. English language arts and science are reinforced in this course. Students may also be interested in joining HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals.
Additional Information: Health Science Career Pathway
Honors Health Sciences I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Biology (is recommended)
Description: This course is designed to help students expand their understanding of financing and trends of healthcare agencies, fundamentals of wellness, legal and ethical issues, concepts of teamwork, and effective communication. Students will learn health care skills, including current CPR and first aid training for healthcare professionals, OSHA 10 Hour General Industry (Healthcare) training through the Career Safe program and learn how to manage severe bleeding in an emergency situation through the STOP the Bleed program. Students may also be interested in joining HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals.
Students will complete 4 Honors Projects.
Additional Information: Health Science Career Pathway
Health Sciences II
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Health Science I
Description: This course is designed to help students expand their understanding of financing and trends of healthcare agencies, fundamentals of wellness, legal and ethical issues, concepts of teamwork, and effective communication. Students will learn health care skills, including current CPR and first aid training for healthcare professionals, OSHA 10 Hour General Industry (Healthcare) training through the Career Safe program and learn how to manage severe bleeding in an emergency situation through the STOP the Bleed program.Students may also be interested in joining HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals.
Additional Information: Health Science Career Pathway
Honors Health Sciences II
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Health Science I
Description: This course is designed to help students expand their understanding of financing and trends of healthcare agencies, fundamentals of wellness, legal and ethical issues, concepts of teamwork, and effective communication. Students will learn health care skills, including current CPR and first aid training for healthcare professionals, OSHA 10 Hour General Industry (Healthcare) training through the Career Safe program and learn how to manage severe bleeding in an emergency situation through the STOP the Bleed program.Students may also be interested in joining HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals.
Students will complete four honors projects.
Additional Information: Health Science Career Pathway
Trade, Technology Engineering & Industrial Education
Construction Core
Intended Audience: Any student who has interests in learning how to use various tools to explore, create, build and problem solve.
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This is the entry course for the CTE Architectural and Construction Pathway completer status. The course will also focus on the OSHA 10 certificate and the NCCER Core Curriculum Credential. Membership to the Construction/ SkillsUSA Club will be available
For more info please email gmiura@wcpss.net
Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwyzP9DWZs0
Carpentry I
Intended Audience: Students who have successfully passed the Construction Core class
Prerequisite Courses: Construction Core
Description:This course will focus on the the fundamental skills of carpentry applied in learning how to build a house from the ground up. Example topics will be hand & power tools, floor systems and more. Membership to the Construction/ Skills Club will be available.
For further information email gmiura@wcpss.net
Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwyzP9DWZs0
Honors Carpentry II
Intended Audience: Any student that has successfully passed Carpentry 1
Prerequisite Courses: Carpentry 1
Description: This course is intended to go deeper into the skills of carpentry(i.e. roof framing) including pre-apprentice registration and related construction trades. It is expected that the culminations of this class is full participation in the SHED Competition during the Spring of the school year. Membership in the Construction/ Skills USA Club is expected as this is the final class to fulfill the CTE Architectural & Construction Pathway
Contact gmiura@wcpss.net for more information
Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwyzP9DWZs0
Drafting I
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course introduces students to the use of simple and complex graphic tools used to communicate and understand ideas, concepts and trends found in the areas of architecture, manufacturing, engineering, science, and mathematics, sketching and computer assisted design (CAD) skills and techniques.
Honors Drafting II: Architecture
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Drafting I
Description: This course focuses on the principles, concepts of architectural design, and use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), used in the field of architecture. An emphasis is placed on the use of 3D CAD tools in the design and execution of floor plans, foundation plans, wall sections, and elevation drawings. An understanding of 3D CAD concepts and terms, and the use of 3D CAD software such as REVIT, are essential to this course, and the required method of producing finished drawings.
Honors Drafting II: Engineering
Intended Audience: 10th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Drafting I
Description: This course teaches the development of knowledge and advanced skills in Engineering Drafting and Design. An understanding of 3D CAD concepts and terms, and the use of 3D CAD software such as INVENTOR, are essential to this course, and the required method of producing finished drawings. Topics include advanced levels of Engineering Drafting and Design, Career Opportunities, Problem Solving, Manufacturing Processes, Parametric- Solid Modeling, Dimensioning and Tolerancing, Working Drawings, and 3D modeling.
Technology Engineering and Design
Intended Audience: 9th -12th
Prerequisite Course: N/A
Description: The TED curriculum will be broadly speaking about technology and how people modify the natural world to suit their own purposes. The students will learn about theory and gain hands-on experience designing, building, troubleshooting, and working with different materials. Additionally, many of the topics and skills can be applied universally. Students will have choices in future projects once they learn the basics. Safety is of the utmost importance and taught from day one.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Honors Technological Design
Intended Audience: 10th -12th Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Technology Engineering and Design
Description: In Technological Design, engineering scope, content, and professional practices are presented through practical applications. Students in engineering teams apply technology, science, and mathematics concepts and skills to solve engineering design problems and innovate designs. Students research, develop, test, and analyze engineering designs using criteria such as design effectiveness, public safety, human factors, and ethics. This course is an essential experience for students who are interested in technology, innovation, design, and engineering.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Family and Consumer Science Education (FCS)
Apparel & Textile Production I
Intended Audience: 9-12 grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Apparel 1 is an introductory course which introduces students to many aspects of the apparel and textile industry. Standards include Apparel industry history, the elements and prinicples of design, textile science (fibers, fabrics and finishes), understanding paper patterns, small sewing tools and machines and apparel construction.
Hands-on projects include fashion illustration, weaving, tie-dye and sewing projects such as hand sewing , drawstring bag, patchwork pillow, blankets for charity, zippered bag, pajama pants, wallets, sleep masks, coffee cup cozy and the opportunity to learn machine embroidery.
This course is essential for anyone interested in entering the apparel and textile industry, working retail or wanting to sew their own clothes and products. The concepts learned can help students become better consumers and enhance their life skills.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Apparel & Textile Production II
Intended Audience: 9-12 grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Apparel & Textile Production I
Description: Apparel II is a continuation class from Apparel 1. Students will expand their knowledge of detailed apparel construction techniques and learn how to draft a paper pattern of a garment or textile product (ie: tote bag). In this class, students will have the opportunity to create a mood board, fashion illustrations, apparel tech pack, a marketing plan, marketing research and class-based enterprise for a textile product. Many more projects are possible.
All students will make a garment of their choice as their final project. This course is helpful for students interested in studying fashion design, merchandising, marketing or apparel/ textile buying or wanting to increase their sewing and apparel construction skills.
There is also an option for students to take a CTE Advanced Studies class during their junior or senior year which involves an independant project and career related interview with an industry professional. (Apparel II Honors on next slide)
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Apparel & Textile Production II HONORS
Intended Audience: 10-12 grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Apparel & Textile Production I
Description: Apparel II Honors students learn the same curriculum as Apparel II and are required to create and present a portfolio of 1) a mood board, fashion illustrated designs and a tech pack for a target market, 2) an in-depth career paper and 3) their marketing plan and product.
All students will make a garment or textile product of their choice as their final project using an existing pattern or drafting their own pattern. This course is helpful for students interested in studying textile design, merchandising, marketing or apparel/ textile buying or wanting to increase their sewing and apparel construction skills.
There is also an option for students to take a CTE Advanced Studies class during their junior or senior year which involves an independant project and career related interview with an industry professional.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Child Development
Intended Audience: 9th-12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course introduces students to responsible nurturing and basic applications of child development theory with children from infancy through six. Areas of study include parenthood decisions, childcare issues, prenatal development and care, and development and care of infants, toddlers, and children three through six. Emphasis is on responsibilities of parents, readiness for parenting, and the influence parents have on children while providing care and guidance. Art, English language arts, and science are reinforced.
Early Child Education I
Intended Audience: 11th and 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Child Development
Description: This two-credit course prepares students to work with children in early education and childcare settings. Areas of study include personal and professional preparation, child development from birth to age 12, techniques and procedures for working with young children, and history, trends and opportunities in this field. An internship makes up 50 percent of instructional time. Due to student participation internships at early childhood centers that meet NC Child Care General Statute 110-91 Section 8, students must be 16 years of age prior to October 1 to enroll in this course.
Honors Early Child Education II
Intended Audience: 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Early Childhood Education I
Description: This two-credit course provides advanced experiences in working with children from infancy to age 12 in early education and childcare settings. Areas of study include program planning and management, developmentally appropriate practice, procedures and strategies for working with special groups of children, career development and professionalism. An internship makes up 50 percent of instructional time. Due to student participation internships at early childhood centers that meet NC Child Care General Statute 110-91 Section 8, students must be 16 years of age prior to October 1 to enroll in this course.
Foods & Nutrition I
Intended Audience: 9-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course examines the nutritional needs of the individual. Emphasis is placed on fundamentals of food production, kitchen and meal management, food groups and their preparation, and time and resource management. English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies are reinforced. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.
Foods & Nutrition II
Intended Audience: 9-12th grade students that passed foods 1
Prerequisite Courses: Foods 1
Description: In this course students experience the intersection of nutrition science and food preparation, while building skills for an expanding range of career opportunities. Emphasis is placed on health and social responsibility while improving the way people eat. Students learn how to manage food safety; plan and prepare meals for a variety of consumers and clients; and explore the food system and global cuisines. English/language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, technology, interpersonal relationships are reinforced. Students will have the opportunity to earn a food safety certification.
Culinary Arts & Hospitality I
Intended Audience: 9th-12th
Prerequisite Courses: NONE
Description: This course focuses on basic skills in cold and hot food production, baking and pastry,
and service skills. An in-school foodservice business component allows student to apply
knowledge and skills in a commercial setting. Art, English language arts, mathematics, and
science are reinforced.
Additional Resources: Aligned Industry Credential: Certified Restaurant Server ServSafe® Food Protection
Managers Certification
Culinary Arts & Hospitality II Internship
Intended Audience: 10-12 Grade
Prerequisite Courses: FH21 Culinary Arts and Hospitality I
Description: This course provides advanced experiences in cold and hot food production, management (front
and back of the house), and service skills. Topics include menu planning, business management, and guest relations. An in-school foodservice business component allows to apply knowledge and skills in a
commercial setting. Art, English language arts, mathematics, and science are reinforced.
*For safety reasons, enrollment is not to exceed 20 in this course.
Additional Resources: ServSafe® Food Protection Managers Certification
Culinary Arts & Hospitality III
Intended Audience: 10-12 Grade
Prerequisite Courses: Culinary Arts and Hospitality II Applications OR FH12 Culinary Arts and
Hospitality II Internship
Description: The course is designed for students to further develop their knowledge and skills through learning about advanced food preparation, garde manger, baking and pastry, and foodservice operations. The experience includes students learning cooking techniques, yeast breads and pastries preparation, human relations management, menu planning, and food service purchasing and receiving. Arts, English and language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies are reinforced.
Additional Resources:
Interior Design Fundamentals (Interior Design I)
Intended Audience: 9-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: none
Description: This course is an introduction to the world of Interior Design as a career. Content covered includes types of and styles of Interior Design, working with color and textures, and room finishes such as flooring, paint, cabinetry, and window treatments. In addition students learn the basics of floor and space planning, as well as furniture placements. Students will create mood boards, pencil drawings of floor plans, and learn 1 point perspective drawing for rooms. Working with clients and their needs is also explored in this course.
All aspects of a finished room will be examined, and students will create samples of work related to their learning.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Interior Design Studio (Interior Design II)
Intended Audience: 10-12 grade students who successfully completed Interior Design Fundamentals
Prerequisite Courses: Interior Design Fundamentals
Description: Interior Design Studio builds upon the concepts learned in the previous course, as well as provides students with an opportunity to create professional career tools such as a resume and portfolio. The focus of the class is to apply the fundamental knowledge of Interior Design to larger scale projects. Students will work with client needs and wants to create bedrooms, bathrooms, furnishing, lighting and accessory plans that meet client wishes. Budgeting of materials for a project is also a component of the course. Basic software such as Floorplanner and Sketchup for digital design is included for concept drawings.
Student work samples will include client interviews, presentation drawings, floorplans, and sample boards.
All student work samples are the applied to their portfolio, building a product they can use for college and internship interviews.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Honors Interior Design Studio ID (Honors II)
Intended Audience: 10 - 12 grade students who successfully completed Interior Design Fundamentals and wish to earn Honors Credit in Interior Design
Prerequisite Courses: Interior Design Fundamentals
Description: The Honors Curriculum in Interior Design requires a higher level of work in the content by asking students to reach outside their comfort level to explore such things as business set up and cultural impacts on Interior Design in homes. Architectural model, completed Perspective Drawings and Elevation drawings are required for this class, along with the general Interior Design Studio coursework.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Honors Interior Technology (Interior Digital Applications)�
Intended Audience: 10 - 12 grade students who successfully completed Interior Design Fundamentals and wish to build on their software skills for use in the field of Interior Design.
Prerequisite Courses: Interior Design Fundamentals
Description: For this class, students will be more immersed in creating interior and exterior drawings with Sketchup.
Students will then move on to Autocad Revit, an industry standard software in Interior Design. Drawing digital floorplans, rooms and entire houses will be covered.
A credential in Autocad Revit may be achieved upon completion of credential testing.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Honors CTE Internship
Intended Audience: 11th - 12th Grades
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: A CTE Internship allows for additional development of career and technical competencies within a general career field. Internships allow students to observe and participate in daily operations, develop direct contact with job personnel, ask questions about particular careers, and perform certain job tasks. This activity is exploratory and allows the student to get hands-on experience in a number of related activities. The teacher, student, and the business community jointly plan the organization, implementation, and evaluation of an internship, regardless of whether it is an unpaid or paid internship.
Additional Resources: CTE Internship Interest Meeting: https://bit.ly/3du2y6S
CTE Advanced Study
Intended Audience: 11-12 grade students who have completed at least 2 consecutive levels of a CTE course who desire an in depth option toward the specified career.
Prerequisite Courses: Successful completion of 2 consecutive levels of a CTE program area, and application to the program.
Description: Students who choose Advanced Studies complete a project of their own choosing, in conjunction with their teachers approval. The project builds upon skills learned in previous classes, and allows students to apply their knowledge to work based problems. Students work independently while under the supervision of an instructor. This course requires research, interviews in the field, a product of some type, and presentation skills.
Common Advanced Studies areas are Apparel, Construction, and Interior Design.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
Performing & Visual Arts
Modern Dance - Beginning
Intended Audience: Open to 9th-12 grade
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This course introduces students to movement and choreography through the elements of modern and ballet technique. Students will use dance to explore concepts, ideas, and full body movement. Students will observe, create, and perform dance. Participation in class and performances is expected.
Additional Resources: https://lrhsdance.weebly.com/
Modern Dance - Intermediate/Honors Proficient
Intended Audience: 9th-12 grade
Prerequisite Courses: Beginning dance, Intermediate dance or by Audition
Description: This class continues to develop movement skills and choreography using more complex choreographic structures when creating dance. Students will observe, create, and perform dance. Participation in class and performances is expected.
Additional Resources: https://lrhsdance.weebly.com/
Honors Modern Dance - Advanced
(Dance Ensemble)
Intended Audience: 10th-12th grade
Prerequisite Courses: None; by audition only
Description: Success at the advanced level requires rigorous study, excellence in technical performance, and deep aesthetic awareness. Dance Ensemble is a challenging technique class where students produce and present their own choreography. Participation in class and performances is expected.
Additional Resources: https://lrhsdance.weebly.com/
Technical Theatre - Beginning
Intended Audience: Open to 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students study the basics for all the behind the scenes aspects for putting on a show. These aspects include lights, sound, costumes, makeup, props, set construction, and paint.
Additional Resources: Technical Theatre Info Sheet
Technical Theatre - Intermediate
Intended Audience: Open to 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Beginning Technical Theatre
Description: Students build on their knowledge from Beginning Technical Theatre. Based on a class poll of student interest, 2-4 tech aspects are studied in more depth.
Additional Resources: Technical Theatre Info Sheet
Honors Technical Theatre - Proficient
Intended Audience: Typically 11th and 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Application Required. Students are eligible to apply if they have taken Beginning Technical Theatre & held a leadership position for after school productions OR if they have taken BOTH Beginning and Intermediate Technical Theatre.
Description: In this class, students will practice the skills they have learned in previous classes. Students will also have an opportunity to learn about and practice designing for a play of their choice.
Additional Resources: Technical Theatre Info Sheet
Theatre Arts - Beginning
Intended Audience: 9th - 12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: In Theatre Arts, students learn the vocabulary and processes of theatre, as well as the basics of acting, including exploring the concepts of self, body and voice work, improvisation, techniques, and reading and writing related to theatre study. Students have opportunities to perform in class and learn skills for out of class performances. The beginning level course includes an overview of basic theatre principles, including audience etiquette, types of performance spaces, acting techniques, and improvisation. Script analysis and performance are also a part of this class.
Additional Resources: http://lrhstheatre.weebly.com/
Theatre Arts - Intermediate
Intended Audience: 10th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Theatre Arts Beginning
Description: In this level of Theatre Arts students have the opportunity to expand on their previous knowledge of theatre, playwriting, and performance, and improvisation. There will be many opportunities to collaborate with peers, and students will dig into performances of Shakespeare.
Additional Resources: http://lrhstheatre.weebly.com/
Honors Theatre Arts - Proficient
Intended Audience: 11th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Theatre Arts Beginning, Application/Audition Required
Description: This level of Theatre Arts focuses on improvisation, directing workshop, deeper analysis, play production, and writing. This course may be paired with the Advanced group of students. Some after school rehearsals are expected.
Additional Resources: http://lrhstheatre.weebly.com/
Honors Theatre Arts - Advanced
Intended Audience: 11th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Theatre Arts Beginning, Application/Audition Required
Description: This level of Theatre Arts focuses on improvisation, directing, deeper analysis, play production, and writing. A student produced show happens with this class. Some after school rehearsals are expected.
Additional Resources: http://lrhstheatre.weebly.com/
Visual Arts - Beginning
Intended Audience: Open to 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students study a wide variety of techniques and styles of visual arts. There is a strong focus on creation using the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. This class is designed to move quickly and expose students to as many different mediums as possible.
Additional Resources: Informational Video
Visual Arts - Intermediate
Intended Audience: Open to 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Art Beginning
Description: Students expand on the techniques and styles they gained in Art Beginning. The focus is still on creation using the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. Students are encouraged to add personal expression into their pieces while using a variety of mediums.
Additional Resources: Informational Video
Honors Visual Arts - Proficient
Intended Audience: Typically 10 - 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Art Beginning & Art Intermediate
Description: Students start to expand on the techniques and styles independently. Students are encouraged to add personal expression and experimentation into their pieces while using a variety of mediums. Abstract and contemporary concepts take shape and form when developing art as well as the use of traditional techniques.
Honors Visual Arts - Advanced
Intended Audience: Typically 11 - 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Art Beginning, Art Intermediate & Art Proficient
Description: Students start to expand on the techniques and styles independently. Students are encouraged to work independently while following criteria. Abstract and contemporary concepts take shape and form when developing art as well as the use of traditional techniques. Projects transcend from technical to personal choice styles.
AP Studio Art 2D
Intended Audience: Typically 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Art Beginning, Art Intermediate, Art Proficient & Art Advanced
Description: This is a completely independent class where each student is required to submit a 15-20 piece portfolio to be graded by the AP Collegeboard. The creation of art is dictated solely by the student as they follow the prompt given by the Collegeboard. This is considered a college level course . Students must be self motivated.
Vocal Music - Mixed Choir - Beginning (One Semester)
Intended Audience: 9-12th Grade Students new to HS Choir (Beginning Level)
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students will learn to develop healthy vocal techniques, how to read music, the basics of music theory and will experience and appreciate the vast spectrum of choral literature including but not limited to the genres of classical, contemporary, and musical theater. Concert Choir (Beginning Level, One Semester) will perform in 1 concert, a Winter Concert or Spring Concert (depending when the course is taken) with the other choirs at Leesville.
Additional Resources: https://leesvillechorus.weebly.com/choruses.html
Vocal Music - Mixed Choir - Beginning (Year Round)
Intended Audience: 9-12th Grade Students new to HS Choir (Beginning Level)
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: Students will learn to develop healthy vocal techniques, how to read music, the basics of music theory and will experience and appreciate the vast spectrum of choral literature including but not limited to the genres of classical, contemporary, and musical theater. Concert Choir (Beginning Level) will perform in 2 concerts, a Winter Concert and Spring Concert with the other choirs at Leesville.
Additional Resources: https://leesvillechorus.weebly.com/choruses.html
Vocal Music Intermediate - Women’s Chorale
Intended Audience: 10 - 12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: At least one semester of Vocal Music 1 Beginning Level with instructor recommendation or has taken Vocal Music 1 for one year (no rec. needed).
Description: Students will expand their music literacy skills with music that is a higher level of difficulty than what is taught at the Beginning level. Students will continue to develop healthy vocal techniques, they will expand their ability to read music, they will learn slightly more advanced music theory and will experience and appreciate the vast spectrum of choral literature including but not limited to the genres of classical, contemporary, and musical theater. Intermediate Chorale will perform in 2 concerts, a Winter Concert and Spring Concert with the other choirs at Leesville. Additional performances may be scheduled for Intermediate Chorale as opportunities arise.
Additional Resources: https://leesvillechorus.weebly.com/choruses.html
Honors Vocal Music - Capital Pride
Intended Audience: 10 -12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Completion of Intermediate level is preferred. A placement audition is required with Ms. Dickens
Description: Students at the honors level will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of music literacy, vocal technique, and love of choral music (that is exhibited through dedicated individual practice to benefit the choir as a whole). Capital Pride has consistently earned superior ratings at NCMEA’s Music Performance Adjudications, and have also earned superior ratings at festivals when traveling out of the state. Capital Pride requires more time commitment than other choirs due to the difficulty of the music and additional performances that are scheduled beyond the Winter and Spring Concerts at LRHS.
Additional Resources: https://leesvillechorus.weebly.com/choruses.html
Band - Intermediate
Intended Audience: Students (Mostly 9th and 10th Grade Students) who ALREADY PLAY the Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, or Percussion
Prerequisite Courses: Successful Middle School Band Experience
Description: This instrumental ensemble is designed to help bridge the gap between middle school and high school band. This ensemble to help transition students to the high school level of band. This is not a beginning level ensemble and requires previous band experience. This is the general path of a Ninth Grade student unless through audition, they are placed in the Concert or Symphonic Band. The student will have the opportunity to develop tone and ensemble concepts in preparation for more in-depth study either in the Concert Band or in the Symphonic Band. The ensemble performs public concerts and at school functions. The Band has received Superior Ratings at the NCBA Music Performance Adjudication in Grade III and also perform at another national festival. This is an ACADEMIC level course.
Additional Resources: "Join HS Band" Google Classroom / FAQ for Band
Band - Concert
Intended Audience: 9th-12th Grade Students
Prerequisite Courses: Audition with Ms. Montgomery
Description: The Concert Band is very similar in set-up to the Intermediate Band, however, it requires an audition. This ensemble includes 9th-12th grade students and is the middle level ensemble at Leesville Road High School. This ensemble plays grade IV or V at NCBA Music Performance Adjudication. This ensemble This Ensemble is FULL YEAR and has two sections to it – an HONORS level as well as an ACADEMIC level. These students are all in the same ensemble, however, students may take the course for honors credit with additional requirements throughout the school year.
Additional Resources: "Join HS Band" Google Classroom / FAQ for Band
Honors Band - Symphonic
Intended Audience: Top 9th-12th Band Students
Prerequisite Courses: Audition with Ms. Montgomery
Description: The serious music student will explore the art of music from the classical “standards” by the Masters to pieces by contemporary composers. The student will learn advanced technique and musical concepts. The Symphonic Band has received Superior Ratings at the NCBA Music Performance Adjudication in Grade VI. The Symphonic Band is also Leesville’s Marching Band performing at home football games, parades, and competitions. Further, every student is expected to attend all Performances, Band Camp in July, before school morning rehearsals as well as weekly section rehearsals. In order to be in MARCHING BAND, you MUST be in the Symphonic Band. Typically only about 5-10% of freshman are ready for this ensemble when they enter high school. Most wait a year or two before joining Symphonic. This is an HONORS course.
Additional Resources: "Join HS Band" Google Classroom / FAQ for Band
Orchestra - Intermediate
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: None
Description: This is a non audition based ensemble that is comprised of students in grades 9-12 that are currently playing or would like to learn how to play the violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Students in this orchestra have the choice of taking this course at the Honors or Non Honors level.
Honors Orchestra - Proficient Strings
Intended Audience: 9th-12th graders
Prerequisite Courses: Intermediate Orchestra
Description: This is a non audition based ensemble that is comprised of students in grades 9-12 that are currently playing or would like to learn how to play the violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Students in this orchestra have the choice of taking this course at the Honors or Non Honors level.
Honors Orchestra - Advanced Chamber
Intended Audience: 9th-12th grade students
Prerequisite Courses: Audition Required
Description: This is an auditioned based ensemble comprised of students in grades 9-12. This is an upper level course, for students that have advanced playing technique along with an advanced degree of musical artistry. This course is a Honors level course which means that there are more assignments than a Non Honors course but students also receive a higher weighting in their credits which help in their GPA. If you are interested in auditioning for this orchestra, please email Mr. Stiles. mstiles@wcpss.net
Special Programs
Curriculum Assistance (CA)
Intended Audience: Special Education students who have IEP goals that require daily instruction
Prerequisite Courses: included in the current service delivery plan of the IEP
Description: Curriculum Assistance (CA) is a program option designed for students receiving special education services who spend the majority of their day in the general education classroom. The three main components of CA are tutorial, remedial, and study skills instruction and counts as one elective credit toward graduation.
Additional Resources: Sample Video and/or Sample PDF
High School Reading (CA)
Intended Audience: Incoming Freshman who have already been receiving intensive reading support at the middle school level through the Language! Live program or another research-based phonics program
Prerequisite Courses: There is not a prerequisite course for High School Reading. However, this course is intended for freshmen students who have deficits in phonics/phonemic awareness and reading comprehension.
Description: The High School Reading class is designed to accelerate the overall reading ability of high school freshmen who are reading significantly below grade level due to phonics/phonemic awareness deficits. This class implements the Language! Live program with fidelity in that there is a daily requirement to complete 40 minutes of word-based training (phonics) and 40 minutes of text training focused on grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This is intended to be a year-long course.
Additional Resources: Language Live Program Information